London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Enfield 1972
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Enfield]
This page requires JavaScript
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Summary
| Water supply | Number of chemical and mineral samples | 535 |
| Number of bacteriological samples: | ||
| 1. Before treatment | 11,381 | |
| 2. After treatment | 5,472 | |
| Smoke control areas | Number of premises (total to end of 1972) | 74,250 |
| Acreage (total to end of 1972) | 16,820 | |
| Food and drugs | Number of samples analysed | 665 |
| Number of samples of ice-cream bacteriologically examined | 29 | |
| Number of samples of milk bacteriologically examined | 173 | |
| Number of samples of milk analysed in Department's own laboratory | 130 | |
| Housing | Number of dwelling houses inspected | 11,201 |
| Number of housing defects remedied | 3,388 | |
| Offices, shops and railway premises | Number of visits to registered premises | 3,407 |
| Factories and workshops | Number of inspections | 166 |
| Number of defects found | 9 | |
| Number of defects remedied | 5 | |
| Inspections and complaints | Number of inspections and visits | 54,749 |
| Number of complaints and requests for visits | 10,182 |
Water Supply
Part IV, Public
Health Act 1936,
as amended by
Sec. 28,
It is the duty of a local authority to ensure the wholesomeness and sufficiency of the water supply.
Seven samples were submitted for bacteriological examination by the Department and all were satisfactory.
Water Act 1945,
Sec. 78,
Public Health
Act 1961
In Enfield, the water supply, with one exception, is from the public mains. Most of the borough is
supplied by the Metropolitan Water Board, but the Hadley Wood and Cockfosters area is supplied by
the Lee Valley Water Company. Frequent chemical and bacteriological sampling by both undertakings
proved satisfactory.
I am grateful to the Director of Water Examination of the Metropolitan Water Board for the following
report:
1. (a) The supply was satisfactory both as to (i) quality, and (ii) quantity throughout 1972.
(b) All new and repaired mains are disinfected with chlorine; after a predetermined period of
contact the pipes are flushed out and refilled; samples of water are then collected from these
treated mains; and the mains are returned to service only after the analytical results are found to
be satisfactory.
The quality control from these laboratories is carried out by means of daily sampling from sources
of supply, from the treatment works or well stations, from the distribution system, and through
to the consumer. Any sign of contamination or any other abnormality is immediately investigated.
(c) (i) The Board has no record of the number of structurally separate dwellings supplied
in your area, but the population supplied direct according to the Registrar General's estimates at
the 30th June, 1972, was 261,431. (ii) No houses were permanently supplied by standpipe.
(d) No artificial fluoride is being added, and where the fluoride content is indicated in the
analyses it represents the naturally occurring fluoride in the water.
2. (a) The supply was derived from the following works and pumping stations: —
The west and north parts of the Borough are supplied with River Thames-derived water from the
Thames Valley grouped works, with some well water from Hadley Road, Hoe Lane and Waltham
Abbey pumping stations. Part of the Borough is supplied from Coppermills Works and the southeastern
portion in Edmonton is supplied with New River-derived water.
32